Breakthrough Makes Ethanol Fuel Cells Feasible

DailyTech.com
Jason Mick (Blog) - January 27, 2009 9:21 AM

A new catalyst has been developed which can efficiently break down ethanol
Hydrogen fuel cells are one of the hottest topics in alternative energy. However, switching to a hydrogen economy brings with it a load of difficulties and costs, the biggest of which are how to mass produce, ship, and store the fuel. Thus fuel cell designers have looked to seemingly easier marks like methanol and ethanol.

While methanol fuel cells are relatively proven, with many designs set to enter the small battery market in the next few years, methanol still has the problem of limited supply. Thus researchers are turning to ethanol, which will become increasingly cheap and abundant as cellulosic sources hit commercial-scale production.

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